Research / Bay Area implementationContribute a source ↗

Evidence for better education decisions

Education in the AI era.

Connect what research tells us with what districts are doing.

PUBLIC RESEARCH REGISTRYWorking evidence · evolving practice

K–12 AI Compass · For the Bay Area’s next generation

A different world.
A thoughtful start.

Preparing Bay Area children for a world we’re still learning to understand.

Our children will inherit a world different from the one we grew up in. We want them to have the knowledge, judgment, curiosity and human connections to help shape it.

K–12 AI Compass brings together research, district practices and community experience to help families and educators make thoughtful choices about AI—and learn what helps children thrive.

Our guiding question

What do children need to thrive?

We begin with children’s development and the lives we hope they can lead. The tools we choose should serve those aims.

01

The ability to think for themselves

Knowledge, critical judgment, creativity and the confidence to ask good questions—even when answers come easily.

02

Agency and connection

Room to make choices, take responsibility, learn through effort and build meaningful relationships with others.

03

Opportunity for every child

Learning that respects different needs and circumstances, with attention to whose opportunities expand and who may be left behind.

How we work

Open evidence.
Honest uncertainty.

We distinguish research findings from interpretation, plans from implementation, and activity from measured impact. We welcome contrary findings, unsuccessful trials and corrections.

This is a working, AI-assisted collection. The district comparisons describe public documentation; they are not rankings of school quality. Our mission is to support better questions and better decisions as the evidence develops.

Where we stand · September 8, 2026

A growing public record.

43research and policy records
158districts in the nine-county roster
25district profiles with some AI-specific evidence

7 profiles have complete documentation scores; 18 are partial. Three additional searches remain unresolved, and 130 districts await review. Source checks vary in depth; coverage does not mean a comprehensive audit.

Evidence library

Search the underlying record.

Explore academic research, policy documents and implementation evidence. Each entry preserves the source finding, evidence characterization and its limitations.

43 unique source URLs

SourceTypeDomainEvidenceFinding & limitation
What should teachers teach and students learn in a future of powerful AI?
OECD · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher abstract
Policy paperCurriculumDescriptive / conceptual; not causalAsks whether AI changes curricular priorities, which human competencies remain important even when AI can perform related tasks, and whether new competencies emerge.
Limitations / open questionConceptual and anticipatory; does not establish causal effects or district-level cost.
Evolving AI capabilities and the school curriculum
OECD · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher abstract
Working paperCurriculumDescriptive / conceptual; not causalProposes a systematic framework for relating evolving AI capabilities to curricular aims, illustrated through writing.
Limitations / open questionRequires empirical testing across subjects, ages and systems.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Skills
OECD · ongoing
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Project objectives and capability indicators
FrameworkCurriculumDescriptive / conceptual; not causalDevelops methods for comparing AI/robotics capability with human skills to inform policy and education planning.
Limitations / open questionCapability measures do not specify educational interventions.
OECD Teaching Compass
OECD · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Teaching Compass: teacher agency, well-being and competencies
Policy paperTeachersDescriptive / conceptual; not causalA conceptual compass organized around teacher agency, well-being and competencies, positioning teachers as participants in curriculum change.
Limitations / open questionDirection rather than intervention-level causal evidence.
AI Competency Framework for Students
UNESCO · 2024
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Framework overview: 12 competencies / four dimensions
FrameworkAI literacyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalDefines 12 competencies across human-centred mindset, ethics, AI techniques/applications and AI system design.
Limitations / open questionPrimarily addresses what students should know about AI, not the broader redesign of human capability development because AI exists.
AI Competency Framework for Teachers
UNESCO · 2024
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Framework overview
FrameworkTeachersDescriptive / conceptual; not causalDefines knowledge, skills and values teachers need for responsible AI use while protecting human agency.
Limitations / open questionDoes not quantify implementation burden or outcome effects.
Artificial Intelligence and the Futures of Learning
UNESCO · ongoing
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Strands of work
FrameworkPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalUmbrella program spanning policy dialogue, generative-AI guidance and competency frameworks for students and teachers.
Limitations / open questionBroad global guidance; implementation evidence varies by context.
Leading Through Uncertainty: State Approaches to AI in K–12 Education
CRPE · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Key Findings and study scope
Landscape studyPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalAcross 39 states/territories and 18 partner organizations, finds more vision/guidance than operational support for evaluation, procurement, evidence-building and scaling.
Limitations / open questionDescribes activity rather than measuring student outcomes.
2026 AI State Early Adopter Database
CRPE · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Database description and selection criteria
Landscape studyPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalTracks policy, governance, partnerships and implementation across 20 early-adopter states.
Limitations / open questionTracks actions, not comparative effectiveness.
States and AI: An Early Look at Early Adopters
CRPE · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Key findings
Landscape studyPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalDocuments cautious experimentation across state systems amid uncertainty and capacity constraints.
Limitations / open questionNon-evaluative scan; does not rank policies by efficacy.
Metacognition and self-regulation
Education Endowment Foundation · updated 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Key findings and evidence security
Evidence synthesisHuman capabilitiesSynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceEEF reports high average impact (+8 months) at very low cost, emphasizing planning, monitoring, evaluating and explicit teaching of metacognitive strategies.
Limitations / open questionNot AI-specific; translation into AI-rich learning environments needs direct testing.
Additional note from original entry 31Large evidence base reports high average impact at low monetary cost, centered on planning, monitoring and evaluating one's own learning.
Why it matters / limitation

Not AI-specific, but potentially foundational to preserving agency and preventing cognitive offloading.

Metacognition and self-regulation evidence review
Education Endowment Foundation · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Evidence-review description (not underlying PDF)
Evidence synthesisHuman capabilitiesSynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceUpdated evidence review of classroom strategies and professional-development practices for metacognition and self-regulated learning.
Limitations / open questionDoes not directly address AI-mediated learning or cognitive offloading.
Feedback
Education Endowment Foundation
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Key findings and effectiveness
Evidence synthesisHuman capabilitiesSynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceFeedback approaches can improve learning, but effects vary and some approaches can be counterproductive. EEF emphasizes task-focused and self-regulation feedback and attention to teacher workload.
Limitations / open questionModern generative-AI feedback may differ materially from historical digital interventions.
Individualised instruction
Education Endowment Foundation · 2021
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Key findings and effectiveness
Evidence synthesisPersonalizationSynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceIndividualised instruction shows moderate average benefits with substantial variation. EEF recommends supplementing classroom teaching while protecting high-quality teacher interaction.
Limitations / open questionOlder, heterogeneous evidence base; generative-AI tutoring requires direct evaluation.
The Future of Jobs Report 2025
World Economic Forum · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Report digest: skills outlook
Employer surveyFuture skillsDescriptive / conceptual; not causalEmployers expect major skill change by 2030; AI/big data rise rapidly while analytical thinking, resilience, creativity, leadership and lifelong learning remain core.
Limitations / open questionEmployer expectations are not causal evidence for K–12 curriculum choices.
Additional note from original entry 34Employers expect rapid growth in AI/data skills while analytical thinking, resilience, creativity, leadership and lifelong learning remain core.
Why it matters / limitation

Employer forecasts are informative but should not determine K–12 aims by themselves.

One Click Away: AI Tutoring with Khanmigo in a Two-Year School Experiment
NBER · Oreopoulos & Low · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Working-paper abstract
Cluster RCTPersonalizationCausal study; context-limitedTwo-year experiment in 18 Tennessee middle schools. Khanmigo assignment produced modest math gains; active use was limited and gains resembled Khan Academy practice without AI.
Why it matters / limitation

Strong counterweight to hype: availability does not guarantee substantive tutoring use, and AI may not outperform well-designed non-AI practice in routine deployment.

AI tutoring outperforms in-class active learning: an RCT
Scientific Reports · Kestin et al. · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Article abstract and study context
Randomized controlled trialPersonalizationCausal study; context-limitedIn a Harvard physics course, a carefully engineered AI tutor produced larger learning gains in less time than an active-learning classroom condition.
Why it matters / limitation

Shows potential under high-quality pedagogical design, but in higher education, one subject, one course, and a custom tutor—not generic chatbot use.

A systematic review of AI-driven intelligent tutoring systems in K–12 education
npj Science of Learning · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Review abstract and scope
Systematic reviewPersonalizationSynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceReviews K–12 intelligent tutoring evidence and finds encouraging results alongside substantial heterogeneity in design, context and implementation.
Why it matters / limitation

Useful benchmark for what AI tutoring has actually demonstrated versus what remains uncertain.

Generative Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning at the K–12 Level: A Systematic Review
Technology, Knowledge and Learning · Marzano · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Review abstract and conclusion
Systematic reviewPolicySynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceReviews 197 studies and identifies opportunities in personalization, assessment and engagement, while emphasizing teacher training, ethics, privacy and the lack of concrete classroom experiments.
Why it matters / limitation

Maps a rapidly expanding literature but much of the underlying evidence remains exploratory rather than causal.

A systematic literature review of generative AI literacy in schools
Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher abstract
Systematic reviewAI literacySynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceSynthesizes 51 empirical studies and proposes five GenAI literacy competencies: understanding, use, evaluation, ethics and attitudes.
Why it matters / limitation

Students often struggle with critical evaluation of AI outputs; the field remains young and policy-sensitive.

A systematic review on how educators teach AI in K–12 education
Educational Research Review · Liu & Zhong · 2024
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher-indexed summary; 45 empirical studies
Systematic reviewAI literacySynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceReviews how AI is taught in K–12 and finds emphasis on experiential learning, middle-school contexts and AI literacy development.
Why it matters / limitation

Addresses teaching about AI more than redesigning learning because AI exists.

Reimagining teacher development in the era of generative AI: A scoping review
Teaching and Teacher Education · 2025
Metadata confirmed; summary unresolved · September 8, 2026
Scoping reviewTeachersNot yet assessedDo not rely on this summary yet.

Publisher access remains unavailable. Title and DOI were confirmed in Crossref; no publisher abstract was available for verification.

Unverified inherited summaryReviews 22 empirical studies of GenAI in teacher development, highlighting resource creation and tailored support while noting small samples and underrepresentation of in-service teachers.
Why it matters / limitation

Teacher development is central to implementation, yet the evidence base is still immature.

A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protect
Brookings Institution · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Report overview and Prosper / Prepare / Protect
Global task-force synthesisPolicySynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceDrawing on over 400 studies and international consultation, the task force judges that current risks of generative AI in children’s education overshadow its benefits. It recommends Prosper, Prepare and Protect actions while recognizing that carefully designed uses may support learning.
Limitations / interpretationA task-force synthesis and recommendations, not a causal estimate of net benefit or harm for every tool or child.
How Teens Use and View AI
Pew Research Center · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Survey overview and schoolwork section
National surveyPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalNational survey of teens and parents: 54% of teens report chatbot use for schoolwork, and 10% say chatbots help with all or most schoolwork.
Why it matters / limitation

Critical baseline on real behavior and equity differences; self-reported use does not establish learning effects.

AI Index 2025 — Education Chapter
Stanford HAI · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Education chapter: CS teacher readiness
Annual evidence compendiumTeachersDescriptive / conceptual; not causalThe education chapter documents gaps in access to computer science and readiness to teach AI. Its teacher-readiness finding concerns computer-science teachers, not all teachers.
Limitations / interpretationLandscape indicators drawn from specific populations; do not generalize CS-teacher readiness to the full workforce.
Empowering Education Leaders: A Toolkit for Safe, Ethical, and Equitable AI Integration
U.S. Department of Education · 2024
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Toolkit title, scope and non-regulatory guidance
Federal toolkitPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalProvides a decision framework for leaders incorporating AI into student learning and the instructional core, with emphasis on safety, ethics and equity.
Why it matters / limitation

Important governance baseline; not a transformation or cost-effectiveness model.

Guidance for the Safe and Effective Use of AI in California Public Schools
California Department of Education · 2025/2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Introduction and guidance sections
State guidancePolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalCalifornia TK–12 guidance covering human-centered AI, AI literacy, equitable access, academic integrity, data privacy and instructional integration.
Why it matters / limitation

Directly relevant to SRVUSD and California implementation; guidance is intentionally non-mandatory and does not establish efficacy.

Additional note from original entry 48California guidance for TK–12 covers human-centered AI, AI literacy, equitable access, academic integrity, data privacy, educator support and instructional practice.
Why it matters / limitation

Guidance establishes constraints and recommended practice; it does not determine which instructional interventions are most effective.

Model Policy: Artificial Intelligence in Education
California Department of Education · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Introduction and model-policy scope
State model policyPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalModel policy developed under SB 1288 covering legal, ethical and logistical considerations for California LEAs.
Why it matters / limitation

Useful implementation baseline and constraint set for any district pilot portfolio.

Learning Systems: The Landscape of Artificial Intelligence in K–12 Education
Bellwether · 2024, updated August 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher series overview
Landscape reportPolicyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalBellwether’s Learning Systems series describes AI capabilities, policy considerations and possible education use cases. Its Foundations and Considerations reports were updated in August 2026.
Why it matters / limitation

Policy-oriented synthesis; evidence quality varies by use case.

How Has Artificial Intelligence Been Used in Education?
Institute of Education Sciences / REL Northwest · 2024
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Resource summary and five use categories
Research reviewPolicySynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceOrganizes AI use into instruction/tutoring, personalized learning, assessment, analytics and administrative tasks, with four implementation considerations.
Why it matters / limitation

Useful taxonomy; predates much of the newest generative-AI evidence.

K-12 AI Curricula: A Mapping of Government-Endorsed AI Curricula
UNESCO · 2022 (updated 2026)
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Global survey overview
Global curriculum mappingAI literacyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalMaps government-endorsed K–12 AI curricula globally, including content, learning outcomes, curriculum integration, teacher training, tools and pedagogy. Finds project-based learning common and recommends product-agnostic AI education.
Why it matters / limitation

Describes curricula and implementation structures rather than causal learning outcomes.

Preparing K–12 Students With AI Literacy: Proposed Framework, Progression, and Task Design Principles
ETS · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher abstract
Research frameworkAI literacyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalProposes an AI-literacy conceptual framework, hypothesized learning progression and explicit assessment-design principles for K–12 learners.
Why it matters / limitation

Framework and task-design guidance; learning progression still requires broad empirical validation.

What Is AI Literacy? Competencies and Design Considerations
ACM CHI · Long & Magerko · 2020
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Author manuscript abstract / framework
Foundational research paperAI literacyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalSynthesizes interdisciplinary literature into an AI-literacy framework and design considerations for understanding, interacting with and evaluating AI. It is conceptual guidance, not a classroom intervention test.
Limitations / interpretationPredates modern generative AI. Broad curriculum and assessment validity requires separate evidence.
AI4K12 — Five Big Ideas and K–12 AI Guidelines
AAAI / CSTA / AI4K12 · 2019–ongoing
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Five Big Ideas and draft guidelines
Curriculum guidelinesAI literacyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalOrganizes K–12 AI learning around perception, representation/reasoning, learning, natural interaction and societal impact, with grade-band progression guidance.
Why it matters / limitation

Primarily a content/curriculum framework for learning about AI, not evidence of broader educational transformation.

AI Literacy: A Framework to Understand, Evaluate, and Use Emerging Technology
Digital Promise · 2024
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Framework: Understand, Evaluate, Use
Practice frameworkAI literacyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalFrames AI literacy around understanding, evaluating and using AI, integrating technical foundations with ethics, human judgment, power, bias and agency.
Why it matters / limitation

Research-informed but not itself a causal evaluation of a K–12 implementation.

AI Literacy Insights and Opportunities
Digital Promise · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Landscape scan and recommendations
Landscape synthesisAI literacySynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceArgues AI literacy should connect socio-technical competencies to computational foundations and explicitly support complementary human capabilities such as judgment, uncertainty navigation and collaboration.
Why it matters / limitation

Strategic synthesis rather than experimental outcome evidence.

Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education: A Systematic Review of Teachers’ Professional Development Needs for AI Integration
Computers · Aravantinos et al. · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher reprint: PDF page 336, abstract
Systematic reviewTeachersSynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceFinds technical training alone insufficient; effective integration requires pedagogical knowledge, positive attitudes, organizational support, AI literacy, ethics and continuous professional development.
Why it matters / limitation

Underlying studies are heterogeneous and concentrated geographically; the review does not quantify district-level implementation cost.

Unpacking Artificial Intelligence in Elementary Education: A Comprehensive Thematic Analysis Systematic Review
Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher-indexed scope and themes
Systematic reviewChild developmentSynthesis; heterogeneous evidenceReviews AI applications in elementary education during 2013–2023, organizing themes and identifying gaps. Its scope predates much of the current generative-AI classroom experience.
Limitations / interpretationA thematic review does not establish causal effects, long-term child-development outcomes or the effectiveness of a particular product.
Examining Student Teachers’ Agency in an AI-Supported Learning Environment
International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Article abstract (22 Q sorts)
Empirical qualitative studyAgencyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalIdentifies distinct patterns of AI-supported agency, including balanced intentional use and uncritical reliance associated with diminished criticality and agency.
Why it matters / limitation

Small Q-methodology sample of student teachers in one higher-education context; not K–12 causal evidence.

Developing and Validating the Student Learning Agency Scale in Generative AI-Supported Contexts
Education and Information Technologies · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher abstract; university samples
Measurement studyAgencyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalDevelops a learning-agency scale for generative-AI-supported contexts using university-student samples. Instrument validation does not establish instructional effectiveness or applicability to K–12.
Limitations / interpretationAbstract-level review only. The abstract contains inconsistent sample/factor counts, so numeric instrument details are not reproduced here.
Multidimensional Student Agency in Learning with AI: A Conceptual Framework and Design Implications
AIED 2025 · Vincoli, Scholz & Nagashima · 2025
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Conference-paper abstract
Conceptual frameworkAgencyDescriptive / conceptual; not causalDefines student-AI agency across content, feedback/help, co-orchestration and data dimensions, offering a design lens for balancing system assistance with learner control.
Why it matters / limitation

Conceptual framework; requires experimental validation across age groups and classroom contexts.

AI-based cognitive offloading by students in higher education in China
Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans · 2026
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Publisher abstract; university students in China
Measurement + observational studyCognitive offloadingDescriptive / conceptual; not causalDevelops a scale distinguishing lower- and higher-order AI offloading and studies associations with AI value, usage and evaluation capabilities among university students in China. The reported relationships are observational.
Limitations / interpretationNot K–12 evidence; associations do not show that AI causes loss of learning or that evaluation training prevents it.
Students Are Using Large Language Models and AI Detectors Can Often Detect Their Use
Frontiers in Education · 2024
Summary checked · September 8, 2026 · Article abstract and detector limitations
Empirical studyAssessmentDescriptive / conceptual; not causalFinds substantial student LLM use and ambiguity around ethical use; tested detectors produced enough error that authors warn they should not be relied upon alone for academic-integrity decisions.
Why it matters / limitation

Single university course and detector generation from 2024; detector performance changes quickly and is not K–12-specific.

43 source records, with duplicate entries consolidated. Evidence labels are editorial aids, not formal GRADE ratings. See Methods for scope and provenance.

Community research contributions

Open submissions from readers, published immediately and subject to moderation. These have not been editorially reviewed and are separate from the evidence collection above.

Contribute research ↗

Comparative matrix

New review batch: 17 evidence profiles added, 3 searches unresolved. See county coverage and review limits ↗

Documentation scores, not performance ratings.

Click a score to see its source and rationale. 25 profiles have some AI-specific evidence; 3 searches are unresolved and 130 districts remain unaudited. A plan is not proof of implementation.

Default order: highest total documentation score. Total = sum of 15 equally weighted dimensions, maximum 30. Only fully scored rows receive a total; unknowns stay last in either direction. Click any column heading to sort; click again to reverse. Ties use district name. Totals sum reviewed documentation judgments and are not measures of effectiveness.

Compare district documentation.

158 districts reconciled with the CDE’s 2026–27 list. Compare 15 dimensions of documented public activity. Seven districts have complete documentation scores, 18 are partial, 3 searches are unresolved and 130 await review; this is not a district-quality ranking.

2 Clearly documented1 Emerging / partial0 Not found in reviewed sources— Unknown / not yet audited

158 districts

Scroll horizontally for all 15 dimensions and source links →
Alameda Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Albany City Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Berkeley Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Castro Valley Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Dublin Unified
Alameda
Partial
—Indexed primary-document excerpt; direct PDF fetch returned 403. Resolution calls for unified guidance; adoption and present implementation remain unverified. Review: September 8, 2026.
Emery Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Fremont Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Hayward Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Livermore Valley Joint Unified
Alameda
Partial
—Single-school program page; 2025–26 offering. After-school STEAM listing includes AI; no inference about district-wide curriculum. Review: September 8, 2026.
Mountain House Elementary
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
New Haven Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Newark Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Oakland Unified
Alameda
Partial
—Resource-index review; embedded documents unresolved; no district aggregate. Reviewed September 8, 2026. Open the profile for each cell’s source, locator and rationale.
Piedmont City Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Pleasanton Unified
Alameda
Partial
—First-person announcement only; handbook not reviewed. Co-lead reports a guidance release and staff-learning plans; underlying policy details need verification. Review: September 8, 2026.
San Leandro Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
San Lorenzo Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Sunol Glen Unified
Alameda
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Acalanes Union High
Contra Costa
Partial
—District AI hub review; linked guidance and board records not fully reviewed. Hub describes student access and accompanying lessons; no learning-effect claim. Review: September 8, 2026.
Antioch Unified
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Brentwood Union Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Byron Union Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Canyon Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
John Swett Unified
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Knightsen Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Lafayette Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Liberty Union High
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Martinez Unified
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Moraga Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Mt. Diablo Unified
Contra Costa
Analyzed
16District family FAQ review; linked documents excluded. Detailed family guidance covers classroom permissions, AI literacy and tool review. No outcome evaluation appears in this FAQ. Review: September 8, 2026.
Oakley Union Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Orinda Union Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Pittsburg Unified
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
San Ramon Valley Unified
Contra Costa
Analyzed
21District public-page review. Reviewed September 8, 2026. Open the profile for each cell’s source, locator and rationale.
Walnut Creek Elementary
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
West Contra Costa Unified
Contra Costa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Bolinas-Stinson Union
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Kentfield Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Laguna Joint Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Lagunitas Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Larkspur-Corte Madera
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Miller Creek Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Mill Valley Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Nicasio
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Novato Unified
Marin
Partial
—District announcement republished on school site; agenda listing only. An AI education update was scheduled. The presentation, decisions and implementation remain unresolved. Review: September 8, 2026.
Reed Union Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Ross Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Ross Valley Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
San Rafael City Elementary
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
San Rafael City High
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Sausalito Marin City
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Shoreline Unified
Marin
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Tamalpais Union High
Marin
Partial
—Historical single-course page; not current district policy. Course page discusses AI permissions, original analysis and teacher checkpoints. Review: September 8, 2026.
Calistoga Joint Unified
Napa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Howell Mountain Elementary
Napa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Napa Valley Unified
Napa
Partial
—District progress bulletin; draft-stage account. Reports an AI Council meeting and feedback on draft guidance; later adoption is not verified here. Review: September 8, 2026.
Pope Valley Union Elementary
Napa
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Saint Helena Unified
Napa
Partial
—Historical catalog excerpt; direct document access unresolved. An indexed course description mentions AI; current course delivery remains unknown. Review: September 8, 2026.
San Francisco Unified
San Francisco
Analyzed
13Family and staff pages refreshed September 8, 2026; embedded documents excluded. Current student access remains uncertain because both pages warn of outdated content.
Bayshore Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Brisbane Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Burlingame Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Cabrillo Unified
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Hillsborough City Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Jefferson Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Jefferson Union High
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
La Honda-Pescadero Unified
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Las Lomitas Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Menlo Park City Elementary
San Mateo
Evidence unresolved
—AI-focused search plus general technology-plan page. General technology principles were located. AI-specific district evidence remains unresolved; Menlo School is a separate institution. Review: September 8, 2026.
Millbrae Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Pacifica
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Portola Valley Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Ravenswood City Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Redwood City Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
San Bruno Park Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
San Carlos Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
San Mateo-Foster City
San Mateo
Partial
—District working-group page and timeline; embedded slides excluded. Community representation is documented; policy drafting and implementation remain scheduled work. Review: September 8, 2026.
San Mateo Union High
San Mateo
Analyzed
18District public-page review. Reviewed September 8, 2026. Open the profile for each cell’s source, locator and rationale.
Sequoia Union High
San Mateo
Partial
—Five-page policy document review; historical revision. Policy identifies unauthorized AI-generated answers as cheating. Newer AI initiatives are outside this document review. Review: September 8, 2026.
South San Francisco Unified
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Woodside Elementary
San Mateo
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Alum Rock Union Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Berryessa Union Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Cambrian
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Campbell Union
Santa Clara
Partial
—District pilot narrative republished on school site; underlying presentation not reviewed. Reports math-tool pilots and a decision to expand Magma Math; no numerical effect sizes or comparison design provided. Review: September 8, 2026.
Campbell Union High
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Cupertino Union
Santa Clara
Partial
—Single-school handbook only; no district aggregate. Reviewed September 8, 2026. Open the profile for each cell’s source, locator and rationale.
East Side Union High
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Evergreen Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Franklin-McKinley Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Fremont Union High
Santa Clara
Partial
—LCAP targeted section review; historical budget plan. Instructional technology action includes AI-related teacher support. Its budget bundles several activities and is not AI spending. Review: September 8, 2026.
Gilroy Unified
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Lakeside Joint
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Los Altos Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Los Gatos Union Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Luther Burbank
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Milpitas Unified
Santa Clara
Partial
—Historical superintendent report; current status unverified. Reports a Khanmigo pilot and plans for an advisory task force; no numerical outcomes provided. Review: September 8, 2026.
Moreland
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Morgan Hill Unified
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Mt. Pleasant Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Mountain View Whisman
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Mountain View-Los Altos Union High
Santa Clara
Analyzed
14District public-page review. Reviewed September 8, 2026. Open the profile for each cell’s source, locator and rationale.
Oak Grove Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Orchard Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Palo Alto Unified
Santa Clara
Analyzed
16District public-page review. Reviewed September 8, 2026. Open the profile for each cell’s source, locator and rationale.
San Jose Unified
Santa Clara
Analyzed
17District public-page review. Reviewed September 8, 2026. Open the profile for each cell’s source, locator and rationale.
Santa Clara Unified
Santa Clara
Partial
—Single-school policy page; not district-wide guidance. School policy addresses AI-generated work and independent assignments. Review: September 8, 2026.
Saratoga Union Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Sunnyvale
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Union Elementary
Santa Clara
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Benicia Unified
Solano
Evidence unresolved
—AI-focused search plus general educational-services page. No AI-specific evidence was established in this bounded search. Board attachments and staff resources need further review. Review: September 8, 2026.
Dixon Unified
Solano
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Fairfield-Suisun Unified
Solano
Partial
—Single-school event report on district website. Family event included an AI activity station; this does not establish district curriculum or policy. Review: September 8, 2026.
Travis Unified
Solano
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Vacaville Unified
Solano
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Vallejo City Unified
Solano
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Alexander Valley Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Bellevue Union
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Bennett Valley Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Cinnabar Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Cloverdale Unified
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Dunham Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Forestville Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Fort Ross Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Geyserville Unified
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Gravenstein Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Guerneville Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Harmony Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Healdsburg Unified
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Horicon Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Kenwood
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Liberty Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Mark West Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Monte Rio Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Oak Grove Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Old Adobe Union
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Petaluma City Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Petaluma Joint Union High
Sonoma
Partial
—Shared Petaluma City Schools hub; secondary provisions only. Secondary tool access and learning resources are published; this is not a separate audit of the elementary district. Review: September 8, 2026.
Piner-Olivet Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Rincon Valley Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Roseland
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Santa Rosa City Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Santa Rosa High
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Sebastopol Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Sonoma Valley Unified
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Twin Hills Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Waugh Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
West Side Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
West Sonoma County Union High
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Wilmar Union Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Windsor Unified
Sonoma
Evidence unresolved
—AI-focused search plus general technology-services page. General technology goals and a plan link were located; AI-specific policy and activity remain unresolved. Review: September 8, 2026.
Wright Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Montgomery Elementary
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.
Two Rock Union
Sonoma
Research pending
————————————————Not yet audited. No inference should be drawn from blank cells.

Click a scored cell for its source, review scope and rationale. Unknown cells are not evidence of absence. Related research offers context, not proof that a district practice works. Read the district methodology ↗

Synthesis

What the evidence currently suggests.

Provisional interpretations of the reviewed source collection. Related records expose the underlying findings and limits; they do not establish every broader inference.

Increasingly clear

Curriculum questions are changing, not merely tool policies.Leading OECD work explicitly asks which human capabilities remain important even when AI can perform associated tasks.
Human capability and AI fluency are complements.Employer surveys highlight analytical thinking, creativity, adaptability and lifelong learning alongside rapidly growing technical skills.
Planning and reflecting on learning matter.Large pre-AI evidence bases support planning, monitoring, evaluating and self-regulated learning.
Teacher capacity is central.Frameworks increasingly position teachers as co-designers and adaptive experts, not passive recipients of tools.

Not established

That more AI use produces more learning.Output quality, task completion and genuine learning are different outcomes.
Which district-wide approach offers the best value.The reviewed source collection does not establish district-wide AI cost-effectiveness, including teacher time and causal learning gains.
What schools should stop doing.Most guidance adds competencies and safeguards without specifying opportunity cost.
How effects vary across students.Age, attainment, disability, income and home access may materially change impact.
Expanded review · September 8, 2026

What the expanded evidence reveals.

20 additional districts investigated: 17 with bounded evidence profiles and 3 unresolved searches. Together with the original eight, evidence now spans all nine counties. This purposive sample does not estimate Bay Area prevalence.

Guidance and operating access are different kinds of evidence.

Acalanes publishes named student tools and describes accompanying lessons. Mt. Diablo publishes classroom and family expectations. These pages document access and guidance, not measured improvements in learning.

Acalanes evidence ↗ · Mt. Diablo evidence ↗

Community involvement can precede policy.

San Mateo-Foster City lists student and parent working-group members while scheduling policy drafting and later implementation. Napa Valley reports feedback on draft guidelines. Participation should not be counted as completed policy or classroom delivery.

San Mateo-Foster City evidence ↗ · Napa Valley evidence ↗

Pilot reports can inform questions without proving impact.

Campbell Union reports testing math tools and using student progress and teacher feedback to choose a next step. Its news account does not publish numerical effects or a comparison design. Milpitas describes a 2024 pilot whose current status still needs verification.

Campbell Union evidence ↗ · Milpitas evidence ↗

A technology budget is not an AI cost estimate.

Fremont Union High’s 2024–25 plan bundles AI-related support with other instructional technology. The listed allocation cannot establish how much was spent on AI or whether it saved money.

Inspect the budget scope ↗

Local examples need local labels.

Course pages, school policies and event reports add useful evidence, but do not establish district-wide practice. Three searches—Benicia, Menlo Park City and Windsor—remain unresolved. Unknowns are kept out of totals.

See review coverage and limitations ↗
From public evidence to classroom trials

Practices you can put to work.

Three starting points for a small, deliberate trial. Each guide separates the documented district example from our suggested adaptation.

Use these as pilot guides.

The steps, templates and time estimates below are editorial suggestions, not district-reported procedures, costs or proven interventions. Source scope checked September 8, 2026.

Guide 01

Listen before expanding

For school leaders and student advisory groups

What the source documents

PAUSD publishes student listening-session and survey materials. This documents a feedback process, not evidence that listening caused better learning.

PAUSD · Student Perspectives & Feedback ↗ · District evidence trail

Try it on a small scale

  1. Invite students with varied experiences, including students who choose not to use AI. Make participation optional and avoid collecting identifiable student information.
  2. Use a short discussion to ask where AI helps, where it gets in the way, and what feels unclear or unfair.
  3. Group the themes, publish an anonymous summary, and name one change to test. Return to students to check whether it helped.

Planning estimate

One facilitator; allow 60–90 minutes of preparation and a 20–30 minute discussion. Adapt this estimate to your setting.

What to look for

Track which perspectives were represented, how many issues received a response, and whether students report clearer expectations at a follow-up. A small discussion cannot estimate district-wide opinion.

Student listening prompts — open to copy

Select and copy this text, then replace the brackets for your setting.

When has AI helped you understand something?
When has it made learning harder?
Which assignment rules are unclear?
What should adults change first?
Our next action: [change]. We will report back by [date].
Link to this guide ↗
Guide 02

Make assignment permissions explicit

For teachers and teaching teams

What the source documents

MVLA explains that teacher directions determine permitted AI use on assignments. Its guidance provides a policy example; it does not establish the learning effect of a particular permission model.

MVLA · Student AI guidance ↗ · District evidence trail

Try it on a small scale

  1. Choose one assignment and name the thinking students need to do themselves.
  2. State which kinds of assistance are allowed, which are restricted, and how students should acknowledge use. Follow your school’s existing policy and approved-tool rules.
  3. Ask students to explain the directions back to you. Review confusion and student work before adapting the next assignment.

Planning estimate

One teacher; allow 20–30 minutes to draft directions and 5 minutes to discuss them with students. Adapt this estimate to your setting.

What to look for

Track clarification questions, whether students can explain the rules, and the quality of independent explanations. Do not treat fewer reported incidents as proof of less misuse.

Assignment directions template — open to copy

Select and copy this text, then replace the brackets for your setting.

Learning goal: [what students should understand or do].
You may use AI for: [specific assistance, or none].
You must do yourself: [essential thinking and work].
Tools and access: [approved option and an equivalent route without AI].
Acknowledgement: [what to disclose and where].
Show your learning through: [explanation, draft history or demonstration].
Link to this guide ↗
Guide 03

Keep adoption connected to learning

For teaching teams and curriculum leaders

What the source documents

SRVUSD’s Technology Plan connects AI with student agency and authentic assessment. This is a published strategic direction; it is not proof of completed redesign or improved outcomes.

SRVUSD · Technology Plan, Academic Integrity ↗ · District evidence trail

Try it on a small scale

  1. Pick one learning objective and identify the evidence that would show a student understands it.
  2. Adapt one task to include a meaningful choice, visible reasoning and a brief independent explanation. Keep an accessible route that does not require an AI account.
  3. Use the same rubric to review work before and during the pilot. Discuss workload, access and student understanding before deciding to continue, revise or stop.

Planning estimate

A pair of teachers; allow one 45–60 minute planning meeting, plus normal assessment time and a 20-minute review. Adapt this estimate to your setting.

What to look for

Compare rubric evidence of independent understanding, student experience and teacher time. A classroom pilot can inform a local decision but cannot establish a causal effect.

Small pilot planning template — open to copy

Select and copy this text, then replace the brackets for your setting.

Learning objective: [objective].
Task and student choice: [description].
Where AI may help: [bounded role].
Independent evidence of learning: [demonstration].
Access and support: [equivalent options].
Review date: [date].
Continue if: [learning and workload criteria].
Revise or stop if: [criteria].
Link to this guide ↗

Teacher research ↗ · Find Palo Alto in the matrix ↗ · Discuss what you tried ↗

Research agenda

The questions worth closing.

These open questions guide what we investigate next. We welcome evidence that changes our conclusions.

Which human capabilities become more valuable as AI capabilities rise?
Which tasks must students still learn to do independently, even when AI can do them?
When does AI assistance deepen learning — and when does it create cognitive offloading?
What changes to assessment are required when high-quality generation is ubiquitous?
Which teacher-development models actually change classroom practice?
What is the cost per student and teacher-hour of each intervention?
What existing activities should be reduced or displaced to make room?
How do intervention effects differ by age, attainment, income, disability and access?
Which combination of changes could improve learning within a district’s resources?
Which findings replicate across districts — and which depend on local context?
From unanswered questions to district evidence

The initial district review exposes the same missing links: measured outcomes, teacher time, implementation costs and decisions to scale or stop. These gaps are priorities for further research, not proof of absence across the Bay Area.

See district patterns ↗ · Inspect the district matrix ↗
Community-added research

What are we missing?

Researchers, educators, students, policymakers, technologists and community members are invited to add primary research, policy documents, datasets, district implementation reports and credible counter-evidence.

Contribution standard

We especially want evidence that challenges our interpretations, documents failed implementations, quantifies costs, or reports null results.

Submission does not imply endorsement.

Public contributions appear immediately in the library’s community section, labeled “Community contribution” and subject to moderation. Your source details, explanation, limitations, display name and relationship are public. Email addresses stay private. Do not include student personal information. Community listings are not reviewed evidence or endorsements.

Research & district methodology

Make the limits visible.

Read source findings separately from interpretations, policy commitments separately from implementation, and documented activity separately from measured impact.

September 8, 2026 · Source review

43 unique source records received a review pass. 42 summaries were checked against the stated primary-source scope; one teacher-development review remains unresolved beyond its bibliographic metadata. Abstract and overview checks are explicitly identified and are not full-text critical appraisals.

Twenty-five profiles now contain at least some AI-specific evidence. Three further searches remain unresolved, and 130 districts have not received a review pass. Seven profiles have complete documentation totals; incomplete profiles have no aggregate. Scores are editorial judgments, not district-endorsed rankings.

The initial collection combined an evidence library and a district observatory. Duplicate source notes were consolidated. The district roster was reconciled with the CDE’s 2026–27 district list on September 8, 2026. AI assisted the research and synthesis; no independent second reviewer has signed off.

Research standards

01

Primary first

Prefer papers, datasets, statutes and district documents over commentary.

02

Fact ≠ inference

Record what the source finds separately from what we think it implies.

03

Contrary evidence

Actively index null findings, failed pilots and credible arguments that challenge our interpretations.

04

Version everything

Show date added, reviewer, classification changes and prior synthesis versions.

Source records show the scope and date of each check; district cells link to their rationale. A full reviewer history and prior synthesis versions are not yet available. Recent corrections appear below and on the About page.

District scope and scoring

The research universe is the nine-county Bay Area's public K–12 school districts. The roster matches the CDE’s 2026–27 list for the nine counties, excluding entries marked lapsed. The CDE itself cautions that directory information is locally self-reported and can contain omissions or errors, so roster corrections should be welcomed and versioned.

For this edition, the review corpus is the primary pages linked in each district profile. A 0 means a dimension was not found in those pages; it does not establish district-wide absence. Blank means unknown or not audited. Embedded documents not accessible during review are not treated as verified.

Scoring: 2 = explicit district-level guidance, strategy or published practice; 1 = planned, partial or school-level evidence; 0 = not found in the reviewed corpus; blank = unknown. For outcomes, 1 can indicate a reported monitoring process without published results; 2 requires documented results. For costs, 1 can indicate a relevant bundled allocation, while 2 requires AI-specific amounts. Neither is proof of effectiveness or actual spending unless explicitly stated. Totals require all 15 dimensions to be scored. All dimensions have equal weight; the total is a navigation aid, not a validated scale.

Roster sources: California Department of Education Public District Directory; Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma county education-office district directories; SFUSD for San Francisco County.

Improve the record

Contribute a primary source, missing district document, correction, null result or cost study. Contributions remain separate from the reviewed corpus until editorial review.

Prepare a contribution ↗

Corrections & review history

This edition consolidates duplicate records, adds access-check labels, distinguishes planned district actions from implementation, and introduces an owner-reviewed contribution inbox. SFUSD’s board-document index is not treated as proof of an OpenAI agreement. Cupertino’s school handbook is not treated as district-wide policy. Submit a correction with a primary source through the contribution form.

Historical source availability

On September 8, 2026, direct checks of the Saint Helena 2024–25 course catalog and Sequoia Union High academic integrity PDF returned “not found,” although both documents remain indexed by search engines. Their original citations are retained for provenance; these historical documents should not be assumed to describe current policy. Replacement copies remain to be verified.

Review coverage by county

25 profiles have some AI-specific evidence (7 scored across all dimensions, 18 partial); 3 searches remain unresolved; 130 have not been reviewed. A scored dimension measures documentation, not effectiveness. Initial reviews are bounded by the sources listed in each profile.

CountyRosterEvidence profilesUnresolved searchesNot reviewed
Alameda184014
Contra Costa183015
Marin172015
Napa5203
San Francisco1100
San Mateo233119
Santa Clara318023
Solano6114
Sonoma391137

The second batch used targeted AI searches and public district or school pages, selected for geographic spread and source availability. It is not random, exhaustive or independently double-reviewed. Historical documents, indexed excerpts, first-person announcements and unreviewed attachments are labeled. A search that finds no AI-specific evidence does not establish absence.

San Francisco has one district in this roster. SFUSD was refreshed alongside 20 additions from the other eight counties. Petaluma’s shared administration is represented here by its high-school district only; its elementary district remains unaudited.

Roster correction · September 8, 2026

Reconciled all 158 entries with the CDE 2026–27 district list (Excel). Added Montgomery Elementary and Two Rock Union, which were missing. Removed Montebello Elementary (closed) and Kashia Elementary (listed as lapsed into Horicon) from the active roster. The total remains 158; Santa Clara now has 31 entries and Sonoma has 39. District names follow the state list; existing profile links are preserved.

CDE roster definitions and annual lists ↗ · Montebello directory status ↗